JP2007303148A - Washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing device causing no hand chapping even with repeated washing and positively supplying/discharging wash water without complicating maintenance work. <P>SOLUTION: A finger washing device 10 comprises an electrolytic means 20 electrolyzing tap water 50 stored in an electrolytic cell 23 by carrying a current to a pair of electrodes 24, 25 to produce wash water 51, and a compressor 22 force-feeding the wash water 51 produced in the electrolytic cell 23 and spraying wash water 51 from a nozzle 30 at the tip. The device is constituted so that the wash water 51 in the electrolytic cell 23 has a preset heated temperature. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device used for cleaning fingers before and after nursing or medical treatment in the medical field, before and after processing foods, and for other daily cleaning of fingers.

  Conventionally, alcohol-based disinfectants used for washing hands and reverse soaps such as benzalkonium chloride have been known to have side effects such as dermatitis, although they exhibit excellent bactericidal action.

  On the other hand, water obtained by electrolyzing raw water containing chloride ions such as tap water contains hypochlorous acid having a bactericidal action, so that a certain bactericidal effect can be obtained. It is less irritating and attracts attention as cleaning water for cleaning fingers.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 show examples of cleaning apparatuses that use cleaning water containing hypochlorous acid generated by electrolyzing tap water for finger cleaning.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-7102 JP 2000-51328 A

  By the way, it is not necessarily preferable in terms of detergency that washing water produced simply by electrolyzing tap water is more clean than using soap. Therefore, in the apparatuses of Patent Documents 1 and 2, by adding an electrolyte such as sodium chloride to tap water, the concentration of hypochlorous acid in the cleaning water is increased to improve the cleaning performance.

  However, in the above-described cleaning apparatus, a large amount of electrolyte is deposited by the amount added, and there is a possibility that the flow path for cleaning water may be blocked by solidifying the electrolyte. For example, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, clogging of the nozzle is caused by the solidified electrolyte, and in the apparatus of Patent Document 2, clogging may occur in the discharge port and the drain hole of the cleaning water. Such problems related to the supply / discharge of cleaning water can be solved by removing the solidified electrolyte at the time of maintenance, but the maintenance work is inevitably complicated.

  In view of the above points, the present invention provides a cleaning apparatus that not only causes rough hands even if repeated cleaning is performed, but also can reliably supply / discharge cleaning water without complicating maintenance work. For the purpose.

  The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured to electrolyze raw water stored in an electrolytic cell by energizing a pair of electrodes to generate cleaning water, and pumps the cleaning water generated in the electrolytic cell. And a cleaning water spraying means for spraying the cleaning water from the nozzle at the tip, and the electrolysis means is configured so that the cleaning water for the electrolytic cell has a preset heating temperature.

  The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned claim 1, the electrolysis means heats cleaning water for the electrolytic cell by Joule heat when electrolyzing raw water. To do.

  A cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the electrolysis means according to claim 1, the current supply to the electrode is controlled at a constant current.

  The cleaning device according to claim 4 of the present invention is the cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning water spray means includes a compressor for supplying compressed air to the inside of the electrolytic cell, and the compressed air supplied from the compressor is supplied. The cleaning water is sprayed from the nozzle by pressure.

  The cleaning device according to claim 5 of the present invention further includes an entry detection means for detecting that an object has entered a preset cleaning space according to claim 1, and the entry detection means detects the entry of the object. When detected, the washing water spraying means is driven.

  A cleaning device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the cleaning device according to the first aspect, further comprising a display device that sequentially displays images indicating a cleaning method while spraying the cleaning water from the nozzle. Features.

According to the present invention, since the cleaning water is sprayed from the nozzle in a heated state, it is possible to improve the cleaning performance without adding an electrolyte to the raw water. In other words, since the cleaning water is heated, the dirt attached to the fingers is easier to remove than in the case of washing with cold water, and it is the same as the washing method by the soap running method without adding an electrolyte such as sodium chloride. Sufficient detergency can be obtained. Therefore, even when it is necessary to frequently wash hands, rough hand can be prevented. In addition, there is no possibility of clogging of supply / discharge of cleaning water due to solidification of a large amount of deposited electrolyte, and the maintenance work can be prevented from becoming complicated.
Furthermore, if the electrolyzing means is configured to heat the cleaning water by the Joule heat generated when the raw water is electrolyzed, there is no need to add a separate dedicated heating facility, which increases the size of the apparatus and the manufacturing cost. There is no invitation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the finger cleaning device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a hand washing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hand washing apparatus 10 exemplified here supplies tap water 50 to the washing space 31 using tap water 50 as raw water, and includes a control means 11, an electrolysis means 20, an electromagnetic on-off valve 21, a compressor 22, a nozzle 30, and an entry detection. A sensor (entry detection means) 32, a drain pan 33, pipes 41, 42, 43, and a display device 35 are provided. The entry detection sensor 32 outputs a detection result to the control means 11 when it is detected that an object has entered the cleaning space 31. The control means 11 controls the driving of the electromagnetic on-off valve 21, the electrolysis means 20, the compressor 22, and the display device 35 based on the detection result of the entry detection sensor 32.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrolyzing unit 20 includes an electrolytic cell 23, a pair of electrodes 24 and 25 (hereinafter referred to as an anode 24 and a cathode 25) provided to face the electrolytic cell 23, an electrode 24, and the like. And a DC power supply unit 26 for energizing 25. An electromagnetic opening / closing valve 21 is provided between the intake of the tap water 50 and the electrolytic bath 23, and the amount of tap water 50 flowing into the electrolytic bath 23 is controlled.
A predetermined amount of tap water 50 is stored inside the electrolytic bath 23, and when the pair of electrodes 24 and 25 are energized by the DC power supply unit 26, the tap water 50 in the electrolytic bath 23 is electrolyzed, and hypochlorous acid to be described later. Washing water 51 containing is produced.

That is, when the tap water 50 is supplied into the electrolytic cell 23 and then the anode 24 and the cathode 25 are energized, the following reaction proceeds at the anode 24 and the cathode 25.
(Anode) 2Cl ⁻ → Cl ₂ + 2e ⁻
Cl ₂ + H ₂ O → HOCl + H ⁺ + Cl ⁻
(Cathode) 2H ₂ O + 2e ⁻ → H ₂ ↑ + 2OH ⁻
As shown in the above reaction formula, at the anode 24, chloride ions originally contained in the tap water 50 and water react to generate hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
In this embodiment, electroless membrane electrolysis is performed in which no diaphragm is provided in the electrolytic cell 23 to separate the anode 24 and the cathode 25.

  Here, along with the electrolysis described above, Joule heat is generated between the anode 24 and the cathode 25, and at the same time the electrolysis is performed, the cleaning water 51 is heated by the Joule heat.

In this embodiment, the concentration of hypochlorous acid obtained by electrolysis is kept constant by controlling so that a constant current always flows between the anode 24 and the cathode 25 for a certain period of time. Specifically, in order to generate 150 ml of cleaning water having a hypochlorous acid concentration of about 9.0 mg / l to 10.0 mg / l, a current of 1 A is applied for about 150 seconds (hereinafter referred to as “electrolysis time”). It is flowing.
Further, in this embodiment, the distance between the anode 24 and the cathode 25 is adjusted so that the heating temperature of the cleaning water 51 is in the range of 40 ° C. to 45 ° C. due to Joule heat generated along with the electrolysis. ing. Specifically, when electrolysis is performed at a temperature of tap water 50 of 15 ° C., a chloride ion concentration of 11 mg / l to 12 mg / l of tap water, an electrode size of 30 mm × 50 mm, the above current value, and electrolysis time, anode 24 The distance between the cathodes 25 is set to 5 mm.

  A compressor 22 is connected to the electrolytic bath 23, and the cleaning water 51 generated in the electrolytic bath 23 is supplied from the electrolytic bath 23 by compressed air to the spray port 27 and sprayed from the nozzle 30. . Below the nozzle 30, a cleaning space 31 for cleaning fingers, an entry detection sensor 32 that senses that a finger has entered the cleaning space 31, and drainage that drains cleaning water after finger cleaning from the drain hole 34. A pan 33 is provided.

  The display device 35 is arranged at a position where the user can easily visually recognize the hand when the user has entered the cleaning space 31, and displays a finger cleaning method in accordance with a display command from the control means 11. To do. The finger cleaning method is, for example, a cleaning procedure from image 1 to image 6 shown in FIG. 2, and the display device 35 sequentially displays these images together with the elapsed time. The image shown in FIG. 2 shows an example of a generally recommended hand washing method, and images 1 to 6 are sequentially displayed in about 1 minute.

Next, the operation and action of the finger cleaning device 10 configured as described above will be described.
First, when the user enters his / her hand into the cleaning space 31, the intrusion detection sensor 32 senses that the hand has entered the cleaning space 31, and the electromagnetic on-off valve 21 is opened by a signal from the control means 11, and the predetermined amount is reached. Tap water 50 is supplied into the electrolytic cell 23 through the pipe 41.

  After the tap water 50 is supplied into the electrolytic bath 23, the tap water 50 is electrolyzed, the hypochlorous acid concentration is about 9.0 mg / l to 10.0 mg / l, and the temperature is 40 to 45 ° C. Only 150 ml of cleaning water 51 is produced.

When the electrolysis is completed, the compressor 22 is driven by a signal from the control unit 11 to supply compressed air to the electrolytic cell 23, and the cleaning water 51 passes from the inside of the electrolysis unit 20 through the pipe 43 to the nozzle 30 for about 1 minute. To the cleaning space 31. At the same time, images 1 to 6 are sequentially displayed on the display device 35 along with the elapsed time by a signal from the control means 11.
Accordingly, the user cleans his / her fingers with the cleaning water 51 heated to about 40 ° C. to 45 ° sprayed into the cleaning space 31 while observing the display of the images 1 to 6 displayed on the display device 35 and the elapsed time. Will be able to do.

Conventionally, an effective hand washing method has been recommended, but the recognition rate in the field is low and there was no effective educational means. Even if the user is aware of the correct cleaning method, if the water temperature is low as in winter, the cleaning tends to be neglected, and the correct cleaning is often not performed.
In the present embodiment, even when the temperature of the tap water is low, such as in winter, the cleaning water 51 is always kept at a temperature of about 40 to 45 ° C., and an image showing the cleaning method sequentially is displayed. The display device 35 to be displayed is displayed in front of the user's eyes. This makes it possible for the user to practice cleaning using the correct cleaning method without performing special cleaning education.

Further, when the temperature of the washing water is about 40 ° C. to 45 ° C., dirt is easily removed from the skin, so that the washability can be improved without adding an electrolyte such as sodium chloride to the raw water.
Further, since no electrolyte is added, there is no possibility that the electrolyte will precipitate and solidify even if it is used for a long time. Thereby, even if it does not perform the electrolyte removal operation at the time of maintenance, a situation in which the flow passage of the cleaning water 51 such as the nozzle 30 is blocked is not caused.

  Further, since the cleaning water 51 is sprayed from the nozzle 30, the amount of water used for cleaning can be greatly reduced, which not only contributes to water saving, but also reduces the amount of water heated in the electrolytic cell 23. Therefore, there is also an advantage of shortening the time from when the hand enters the cleaning space 31 until the cleaning water 51 is sprayed.

  In addition, since the heating water 51 is heated by Joule heat when the cleaning water 51 is generated, it is not necessary to prepare a dedicated heating facility separately, which leads to an increase in the size and manufacturing cost of the apparatus. There is nothing. Furthermore, in this example, since electrolysis is performed by controlling the current to the electrode at a constant current, the Joule heat is larger than when electrolysis is performed at the same current value by adding an electrolyte such as sodium chloride, The cleaning water 51 in the electrolytic cell can be heated in a short time.

In order to support the effectiveness of the hand washing apparatus 10 shown in the examples, the present inventors conducted experiments on adult subjects in the following procedure.
First, in order to confirm the state of the bacteria before washing, the palm and finger pad were pressed against a hand-type agar medium (manufactured by Nikken Biomedical Research Institute) for various hand stamps to transfer the bacteria.
Next, 150 ml of washing water was sprayed for about 1 minute to wash the fingers. The washing water used for washing the fingers is produced in the same manner as the above procedure. In other words, tap water is electrolyzed to produce a wash water having an effective chlorine concentration of 10 mg / l and weak alkaline, and the wash water is heated to a temperature of 40 ° C. The effective chlorine concentration is the total concentration of chloride ions, hypochlorous acid, and hypochlorite ions in the cleaning water.
After washing, moisture was wiped with a sterilized towel, and in order to confirm the state of the bacteria after washing, the palm and finger pad were pressed against the agar medium for hand stamping, and the bacteria were transferred. At that time, the sterile towel was used in a sterile case that could be opened and closed without contact.

The bacteria test was as follows. The type of agar medium for various hand stamps was for general viable bacteria. The culture was carried out at 37 ° C. under aerobic condition, and the number of colonies cultured for a time corresponding to each medium was counted.
As a result of the bacteria test, the average sterilization rate of general live bacteria was 62.6%. In addition, no significant deterioration such as rough skin on the skin was observed after washing.
In the cleaning by the soap water method using tap water, the sterilization rate is usually about 60%. Therefore, it can be seen from the above experimental results that the hand washing using the hand washing apparatus 10 of the present invention can obtain the same cleaning effect as the soap running method using tap water.

  In the above embodiment, tap water is used as water before electrolysis, but water other than tap water can be applied as long as it originally contains chloride ions, such as groundwater.

  In addition, since hypochlorous acid is comparatively stable when the temperature is about 45 ° C. or lower, the concentration immediately after the generation of cleaning water is maintained for about several hours. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, it is not always necessary to perform the electrolysis for each washing, and an amount of tap water corresponding to several times is electrolyzed and stored in the electrolytic cell 23 in advance. When the sensor 32 detects that the hand has entered the cleaning space 31, the compressor 22 may be driven to supply the cleaning water 51 to the nozzle 30.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the electrolysis means 20 is comprised so that the washing water 51 of the electrolytic vessel 23 may be heated with the Joule heat at the time of electrolyzing raw | natural water, this invention is not necessarily limited to this, For example, Alternatively, a heater may be provided in the pipe 41 for supplying raw water to the electrolytic cell 23, and the raw water may be heated to 40 to 45 ° C. in advance by this heater.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the conditions for reducing the concentration of hypochlorous acid in 150 ml of cleaning water to about 9.0 mg / l to 10.0 mg / l are a current value of 1 A and an electrolysis time of about 150 seconds. The electrolysis means 20 is configured with the electrode dimensions of 30 mm × 50 mm and the distance between the pair of electrodes 24 and 25 of 5 mm as the conditions for setting the heating temperature of 51 to 40 ° C. to 45 ° C. However, the present invention is not limited to these. For example, it is possible to increase the capacity of the cleaning water by changing the distance between the electrodes and the current value to increase the amount of heat generated by Joule heat.

As described above, according to the hand washing apparatus of the present invention, since the washing water is sprayed from the nozzle in a heated state, the washing performance can be improved without adding an electrolyte to the raw water, and the soap running water method Detergency equivalent to or better than can be obtained. Therefore, the frequency of using soap can be reduced, and rough hand can be prevented even when it is necessary to frequently wash hands.
In addition, there is no possibility of clogging the supply / discharge of cleaning water due to the precipitation and solidification of the electrolyte, so that the maintenance work can be prevented from becoming complicated, and the joule when the raw water is electrolyzed can be prevented. Since the cleaning water is heated by heat, there is no need to add a dedicated heating facility, and there is no need to increase the size of the device or increase the manufacturing cost. It can be widely applied to general hand washing as well as on-site. In addition, the amount of water used for cleaning can be greatly reduced, contributing to water saving.

It is a circuit diagram of a hand washing apparatus which is an example of the present invention. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the example of a display of the display apparatus used with the finger washing apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Hand washing apparatus 20 Electrolytic means 22 Compressor 23 Electrolytic tank 24 Anode 25 Cathode 30 Nozzle 31 Cleaning space 32 Ingress detection sensor 35 Display device 50 Tap water 51 Washing water

Claims (6)

Electrolyzing means for electrolyzing raw water stored in the electrolytic cell by energizing a pair of electrodes to generate cleaning water;
A cleaning water spraying means for pumping the cleaning water generated in the electrolytic cell and spraying the cleaning water from the nozzle at the tip;
A cleaning apparatus, wherein the electrolyzing means is configured such that cleaning water for the electrolytic bath has a preset heating temperature.   2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyzing means heats cleaning water for the electrolytic cell by Joule heat when electrolyzing raw water.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the electrolyzing unit, current supply to the electrode is controlled at a constant current.   2. The cleaning water spraying means includes a compressor that supplies compressed air to the inside of an electrolytic cell, and sprays cleaning water from a nozzle by the pressure of the compressed air supplied from the compressor. The cleaning apparatus according to 1.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an entry detecting unit that detects that an object has entered a preset cleaning space, and driving the cleaning water spray unit when the entry detecting unit detects entry of an object. The cleaning apparatus according to 1.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display device that sequentially displays images indicating a cleaning method while spraying cleaning water from the nozzle.

Images